Fixing scandal puts former leggie Mushtaq's role under scrutiny
London | Saturday, Sep 4 2010 IST
 

The spot-fixing scandal has not only rocked Pakistan cricket, but has yet again highlighted a few ex-players involved in corruption with tainted spinner Mushtaq Ahmed's role with England coming under scrutiny as ICC has warned the ECB before his appointment.

The ICC said it never favoured the England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) idea of employing Mushtaq as the national side's spin bowling coach at the start of last year because of the condemnation of him by Justice Qayyum in his report into matchfixing involving Pakistan 10 years ago.

''We highlight anybody we've got on a list who has been labelled in one way or another, so I wrote to the ECB and issued them with a cautionary suggestion that they had to do due diligence on Mushtaq, but they were satisfied with the appointment,'' said Haroon Lorgat, the ICC chief executive.

''We at the ICC do not employ people who have been tainted in the past but the ECB are entitled to make their own decisions,'' he was quoted as saying by 'The Daily Mail'.

In his report, Qayyum was unequivocal in his criticism of Mushtaq, the former Pakistan and Sussex leg-spinner.

''There are sufficient grounds to cast strong doubt on Mushtaq Ahmed,'' the Pakistani judge summarised in his report in 2000. ''He has brought the name of the Pakistan team into disrepute with, inter alia, associating with gamblers. ''This commission recommends that Mushtaq Ahmed not be given any office of responsibility in the team or on the board,'' he said.

Despite that, the 40-year-old Mushtaq worked as assistant coach to Bob Woolmer with the Pakistan team and was then appointed to England's staff by Peter Moores and now has become a very popular member of the England set-up.

''I hope this doesn't stay with me for the rest of my career,'' said Mushtaq when he first joined England. ''There wasn't any evidence against me. If there had been I wouldn't have worked for Pakistan.'' However, Mushtaq is not working with the England team at Cardiff ahead of tomorrow's first Twenty20 international against his native country but will be involved in the team's build-up to the Ashes. Meanwhile, England team director Andy Flower said he is still happy to have Mushtaq as part of his team. ''I am very comfortable with Mushtaq,'' said Flower. ''He's been brilliant for us as a team. He's been a good coach, a good example to our players and support staff, and I'm looking forward to him working with us again when he joins us in Australia. He's a lovely man.'' Lorgat yesterday met Sir Ronnie Flanagan, the head of their anti-corruption unit, to discuss over the 'biggest scandal cricket has faced since Hansie Cronje' after suspending the tainted Pakistani trio Salman Butt, Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif for their alleged manipulation of the Lord's Test.

The trio have been barred from participating all forms of international cricket until the investigation concludes and are facing a possible life ban over the spot-fixing scandal.

-- (UNI) -- 04SPD25.xml

 

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